Tom Hanks sparks fury as he portrays ‘racist’ MAGA fan in ‘tone deaf’ anti-Trump sketch: ‘Unbelievably offensive!’
Tom Hanks has sparked controversy after reprising his role as a Trump-supporting character on Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary special.
The Oscar-winning actor returned as Doug, a MAGA hat-wearing contestant on the show’s Black Jeopardy sketch – a parody of the classic US game show.
Appearing in denim and an American Eagle shirt alongside his signature red Trump hat, Hanks featured in the segment which sees contestants answer questions about Black history and culture.
The character, first introduced in 2016, made his return during Sunday’s three-hour celebration special, which featured numerous SNL alumni.
The sketch centred on a contentious moment when Doug initially refused to shake hands with Kenan Thompson’s character, host Darnell Hayes.
“Don’t like that, whoa, whoa, whoa,” Hanks’ character said during the exchange before eventually relenting.
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The tension escalated when Doug suggested, “Maybe I’ll start a show for you to come on and we’ll call it ‘White Jeopardy.'”
Thompson’s character swiftly responded: “We don’t need it.”
The sketch also included Doug making comments about church attendance, stating “if more people went to church, we wouldn’t be in this mess we’re in now.”
The sketch quickly drew criticism from Trump supporters on social media platforms who blasted it as “ignorant” and “disrespectful”.
Mario Nawfal, host of The Roundtable Show, called it a “tone-deaf moment” on X, writing: “Hollywood still doesn’t get it: Portraying Trump supporters as racist caricatures while he’s winning record minority support.”
Former Robert F. Kennedy Jr. aide Link Lauren condemned the sketch, posting: “This show wonders why their ratings are in the gutter. Trump won the popular vote. This tired trope that MAGA is racist is disgusting.”
“Tom Hanks, you are going viral for using comedy as a weapon to maliciously slander good people who support our president,” actor Randy Quaid added.
Conservative commentator Benny Johnson slammed: “Donald Trump just won a landslide election and has never been more popular with Americans. They (SNL) have learned nothing.”
“Add another chapter to the book ‘Why We May Never Lose Again.’ Unbelievably offensive. They’ve learned nothing,” Republican CNN pundit Scott Jennings sniped.
“So wrong — MAGA isn’t racist! SNL knows they can keep pushing these stupid stereotypes for laughs. Sick,” a third raged.
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Meanwhile, others celebrated the sketch on rival social media platform Bluesky.
“Tom Hanks’ portrayal of the every day racist MAGA voter on SNL was spot on and deserves every award,” one wrote while another added: “Gotta love Tom Hanks, firing up the Maga snowflakes!” (sic)
The controversy echoes the original 2016 sketch where Hanks first portrayed Doug on “Black Jeopardy”, which similarly featured the character’s reluctance to shake hands with the host.
Thompson opened the segment by referencing Kendrick Lamar’s recent Super Bowl performance, saying it was “the only Jeopardy where every single viewer fully understood Kendrick’s halftime performance.”
The sketch also featured appearances by SNL veterans Eddie Murphy, Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan and Chris Rock.